Recommendations

Develop official information request policy and procedures.

Develop staff resources on how to apply the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act (LGOIMA) to requests.

Reference LGOIMA reason/s for refusal and highlight the right to complain to ombudsman if request is refused.

Establish a formalised peer review process.

Create an official information request webpage with link from the council’s homepage.

Develop a LGOIMA training programme with training for all staff and targeted training for specific roles.

The Invercargill City Council received 93 requests under LGOIMA in 201819 — it handled 87.1% within the legislative timeframe.